Zinedine Zidane has reportedly turned down the latest advances from Manchester United following the sack of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, citing unpreparedness as his reason.
Zidane, alongside Mauricio Pochettino, Brendan Rodgers and Erik Ten Hag, has been a leading candidate for the United job even while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the wheel.
The Glazers are reported to have sanctioned the move for Zidane immediately after Solskjaer’s sack was made official, but the Frenchman’s unwillingness to move his life to England has put a roadblock between him and United. It is also reported that his wife isn’t too keen on the move to England.
Mauricio Pochettino could be key to Zidane’s return to management
Earlier reports claim that Zidane will only come out of his sabbatical earlier than planned if the France national team or the PSG job becomes available anytime soon.
TalkSPORT reports that Sir Alex Ferguson is leading the charge to bring current PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino to Old Trafford, while the club’s management is leaning more towards Zidane.
Pochettino is under contract with PSG until 2023. While the Argentine manager has played down the Manchester United talks, a positive response from him could see the three-time UEFA Champions League-winning manager back in action.
At PSG, Zidane will be managing his former captain at Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappe, who he had tried to get for Real Madrid during his time as manager, and Lionel Messi, who he battled for four years across two stints in the El Clasico rivalry.
United should have never appointed Solskjaer, says Jamie Redknapp
Meanwhile, Jamie Redknapp has slammed Manchester United for appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the first place, likening the sack of the Norwegian to “shooting Bambi.”
Solskjaer’s impressive run of eight straight wins as caretaker boss after the sack of José Mourinho in the 2018/19 season earned him a contract which later turned into three-and-a-half seasons as United manager.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp came for United’s jugular after the sack was made official. “This hasn’t crept up on Man United, I’ve seen this for a long while,” he said.
“When you look at what Liverpool have got – Klopp, Man City – Guardiola, Chelsea – Tuchel, and you’ve got a manager that’s managed at Molde and Cardiff – at one of the biggest clubs in the world, it isn’t right.
“You’re almost fighting with one hand behind your back in the big occasions and I’ve never really felt he is the right fit.
“I said at the time, one day it’s going to be like shooting Bambi and that’s what it feels like. This should have happened weeks ago.”
